The Board Secretaries Forum was successfully held on 21 January 2026 at The London Grill, Cinnamon Grand, jointly organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) in partnership with ICCS Sri Lanka (ICCSSL), reinforcing the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening corporate governance practices in Sri Lanka.

The session was moderated by Mr. Sathananthan Sudharshan (Director – Governance Consultants (Private) Limited) and featured a distinguished panel comprising Mr. Naomal Goonewardena (Precedent Partner - Nithya Partners), Mr. Rajitha Thoradeniya (Assistant General Manager – Operations & Administration, Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC), Ms. Nilupa Perera (Chief Regulatory Officer, Colombo Stock Exchange) and Ms. Sunethra Dharmakeerthy (Additional Registrar – General, Department of Registrar of Companies). Drawing on their extensive industry experience, the panel provided practical and insightful perspectives on key governance and compliance challenges faced by board secretaries and directors.

Discussions focused on the implementation of Beneficial Ownership requirements under the Companies Act, emphasizing practical approaches to identifying, maintaining, and reporting beneficial ownership information. The panel also addressed safeguards available to directors and company secretaries, highlighting risk mitigation strategies and the importance of clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

The forum further explored ways to strengthen governance and reporting frameworks to enhance transparency and accountability, while clarifying regulatory expectations and evolving best practices. Real-world examples were shared to demonstrate effective implementation strategies, enabling participants to better manage compliance obligations and governance risks within their organisations. The programme concluded with an engaging exchange of views, equipping participants with actionable insights and a clearer understanding of regulatory compliance and governance excellence.

Due to the overwhelming response and high demand from professionals who were unable to secure seats, SLID has announced a repeat programme scheduled for 17 February 2026 from 7.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., providing another opportunity for directors and board secretaries to benefit from this timely and highly relevant forum.